An NFL prospect could become the first openly gay professional football player.

Over the weekend, All-American football player Michael Sam came out saying he is a proud, gay man.

The Missouri University star came out in three interviews over the weekend.

Sam said he told his coaches and teammates back in August, and they supported him 100 percent.

The defensive end is expected to be a mid-round draft pick this year.

Sam says he hopes whatever team drafts him focuses on his work on the field, and not his sexual orientation.

The major announcement comes on the heels of a historic ruling for same-sex couples.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder issued a memo calling for expanded recognition of same-sex marriages in federal legal matters.

Starting today, same-sex spouses will no longer be forced to testify against one another in court.

The couples will be eligible to file for bankruptcy jointly and will qualify for all the Justice Department's benefits programs, including survivor benefits for widows and widowers of police officers and firefighters killed on the job.

Same-sex couples married in one state, will also still have the federal rights in another state that does not recognize same-sex marriage.